Why do I often feel pain and numbness in my hands?

Pain and numbness in your hands and fingers during pregnancy is most likely caused by carpal tunnel syndrome.

It is a condition associated with swelling and weight gain during pregnancy, where the main nerve in the wrist becomes compressed.

Thankfully not all pregnant women suffer from this; estimates vary between 20 and 60 per cent. For most of the women who do experience it, it's mild and temporary, disappearing soon after their baby is born. For some women though, it can be severe and last several months.

What are the other signs of carpal tunnel syndrome?

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome are often worse at night but can affect daily activities too. They include:

pain, pins and needles, or a tingling or burning sensation usually centred in the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and the half of your ring finger nearest to your thumb

aching in your hand, and sometimes in the lower forearm

a weakened grip, particularly in your thumb

numbness in the affected fingers or your palm as the condition worsens

When am I most likely to get carpal tunnel syndrome?

Symptoms can appear at any time but most commonly begin in the second or third trimesters, along with swelling of your hands.

What causes it?

You get it during pregnancy when the carpal tunnel in your wrist (the tube that the nerves going to your hand and fingers run through) swells and compresses the nerve.

As pregnancy progresses, women often get mild swelling in their hands and wrists, as well as their ankles and feet. This is why the condition is more common in the second and third trimesters when you're more likely to have swelling.

It's the pressure on the nerve from the swollen carpal tunnel that causes the problem in the main nerve to your hand and on to the smaller nerves that lead to your thumb and fingers.

What can I do to relieve the pain?

If you're like many pregnant women, you will most often have symptoms at night. Whenever you feel the twinges, shift your sleeping position - this may alleviate a great deal of discomfort.

Other self-help tips to try include:

try not to sleep on your hands

if you do feel pain while in bed, try shaking your hands until the pain or numbness reduces

flexing your wrists and fingers regularly throughout the day may help, although it could also make it worse

sitting with your hands raised, perhaps along the back of the sofa while you watch television, may help

There is a lack of research into self-help treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome so you may need to find out what helps for yourself, by trial and error. If in doubt, see your doctor or a physiotherapist who may give you wrist splints, see below.

How long will I have it for?

Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms will usually disappear, along with the swelling, after delivery. However, if pain persists after your baby is born, you may need simple surgery to relieve the pressure on your median nerve, which runs down your arm and into your hand.

During surgery, a small incision is made in your palm so the doctor can cut your transverse carpal ligament, which pushes into the median nerve as the carpal tunnel swells, preventing the nerve from functioning properly.

Once the ligament cut is made, the pressure is alleviated and the pain relieved in nine out of 10 people, allowing the median nerve to do its job.

When should I call my doctor?

Consult your doctor or midwife if the pain and numbness interferes with your sleep or daily routine. Don't take any pain medications without consulting your doctor first.

Your doctor may suggest wearing a wrist splint during the night and possibly the day, if your symptoms are interfering with your daily life. The splints keep your wrists in a position which maximizes the space in the carpal tunnel and has proved useful to many with carpal tunnel syndrome.

While you may have heard that taking a daily dose of vitamin B6 can help, that's true only for those with a B6 deficiency. If you're eating a healthy, balanced diet, you're getting the vitamins you need anyway, whether or not you decide to take an prenatal vitamin supplement as well.

Last reviewed November 2010

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